About to hit the weekend and we're giving you this week's devlog post-haste! Although some of the news has to do with continuing work on animations and UI, we also wanted to use this opportunity to share with you our next targets for Ale Abbey's development.
A list of goodies included with this post: the foundation work around what's coming, new animation eye-candy, and an extra addition to the Recipe crafting UI that we think will tantalize your palette ;)
Onwards with the news!
-- Bubbles!
Very close to perfecting the Recipe crafting system UI and we are still not out of ideas for how to make it even better... both visually and gameplay-wise! A supplementary cue to show the potency of your crafted recipe's Virtues, colored effervescent bubbles. True to its beer origins and quite noticeable.
If these are not a good reason to spend a few extra minutes crafting your recipes, we don't know what is.
-- New Animations
Yet again working on completing character animations, Raimo - our pixel artist - finished the last of the Abbey's Nuns, throwing in there both room-specific and idle animations.
The next step would be the additional animations for the Abbots and the Abbesses of your Monastery ;)
-- Our next development targets
And talking about next steps...
Using mockups early on in production has given us some amazing results with all the assets we're developing for Ale Abbey. It is always so gratifying to compare a finished scene, UI, or animation, with its original mockup.
Our most recent example is of course the Recipe crafting UI, found in the desks of Ale Abbey's Libraries!
Sparing you the multitude of steps that we went through in between the two stages, we eventually arrived at this:
The plan is to now work on the Brewery UI (which is as important an activity as is Recipe crafting), yet again, using some pretty straightforward, one could say rudimentary, mockups ;)
While working on that very demanding UI scene, we will also be working on the room that will house Ale Abbey's Superiors. And as for the Superiors' private retreat, where your Abbots/Abbesses sleep, avoid tasks during the day, or plan on the Abbey's next strategic steps...
Can't wait to show you more in the coming weeks!
-- To bottle or to keg?
Quite a topic to discuss, with many being dead set on either of the two ways to deal with your finished brew. Naturally, as with any other divisive topic, both sides have advantages and disadvantages.
In short, kegs provide a more convenient and efficient method of packaging, as they eliminate the need for individual bottle cleaning, filling, and capping. This can save significant time and effort, especially when brewing larger batches. Also, definitely never overlooked as an argument, kegs minimize the risk of oxidation, as they are sealed with a CO2 blanket, preventing exposure to oxygen. If you have been diligently reading our posts you already know that oxygen can and will negatively impact the beer's flavor and shelf life. Finally, kegs are reusable, reducing the waste associated with disposable bottles and caps, and making kegging the more environmentally friendly choice for some homebrewers.
On the other hand, bottling has its merits as well. Bottles offer greater flexibility when it comes to serving and sharing your beer... and you did not just spend all this time brewing to drink that beer all alone - friends and family are waiting! Unbeknownst to anyone who has ever bottled their beer, quite a lot of homebrewers enjoy the tradition and craft of bottling, as it allows for individual labeling and customization. Finally, bottles can be stored upright or on their sides, which can be advantageous for certain beer styles that benefit from extended aging.
No matter which way you want to go, the hardest part of brewing and caring for your brew will be long behind you! Enjoy the fruit of your labor!
Tune in next week for more of Ale Abbey's news! For now, enjoy your weekend responsibly ;)
-- Hammer & Ravens
Looking for more Ale Abbey? Or maybe you want to chat with the team and our community? Find us on:
